Cash register and indicator



' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. R. LONGAORE.

CASH REGISTER AND INDICATOR. No. 369,193. Patented Aug. 80, 1887.

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M. R. LONGAORE.

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CASH REGISTER AND INDICATOR.

(No Model.)

Wil nesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHIAS R. LONGAGRE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CASH REGISTER AND INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,l93,dated August30, 1887.

Application filed Octobrr 20, 1886. Serial No. 216,736.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHIAs R. LONG- ACRE, a resident of Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, and a citizen of the United States, have invented anImproved Cash Register and Indicator, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to indicating and registering mechanism, moreespecially such as is adapted for indicating and registering the amountsof cash sales in stores; and one of the main objects of my invention isto so construct the cash indicator and register that the buyer can seethe indications of the amount payable for the purchase at the time it isregistered.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved registering apparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of thesame. Fig. 3 is an enlarged trans verse section on the line 1 2, Fig. 2,of one section of the register. Fig. 4 is a similar section on the line3 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar transverse section on the line 5 6,Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the number-plates. .Figs. 7, 8,and 9 are enlarged views of one of the keys and part of the locking-boltin three different positions. Fig. 10 is an enlarged inverted plan viewof the registering-wheels. Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional viewsillustrating parts of the registering device; and Fig. 18 is aperspective view of the indicator and register in a counter desk, ortable.

Among theessential features of my apparatus are a series of slidingnumber-platesimpolled by suitable springs and each having a number oflocking and releasing keys, alocking-bolt for the keys, and devices forreturningthe parts to their normal positions, as described hereinafter.

Each number-plate carries on its face figures from 0 to 9, and in thedrawings, Fig. 1, I have illustrated four number-plates and theirdevices for two columns of cents and for two columns of dollars; but thenumber-plates and their devices may be increased to any desired extent.Through an opening in the top of the case of the indicator and registerone or other of the figures on the face of each number-plate is visibleto the purchaser, according to the position in which the number-plate(No model.)

stops in its longitudinal movement under control of the correspondingkey.

As the construction and operation of the several number-plates withtheir keys and their operating parts are alike, a description of onewill apply to all, and in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 I have illustrated onlyone section of the register or set of the devices.

A is the casing, and in horizontal guides in this casing is adapted toslide the longitudinal number-plate B, having on its under side a rack,72, into which gears a cog-wheel, D,

mounted to turn freely on ashal't, E, having bearings'in the casing. Tothe hub of this wheel D is secured one end ofa coiled spring, F, whilethe other end is connected to the casing, and the parts are so arrangedthat the spring tends to turn the wheel D in the direction of its arrow,Fig. 2, so as to impel the number-plate B forward when released from itsretaining-catch.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the upper surface ofthe number-plate carriesaseries of figures 0 to 9-and one or other of these figures will showthrough a glazed opening, a, in the top of the case, according to theposition in which the number-plate happens to be. As shown in Fig.6,this number-plate B has at its outer end a notch, b, with a bevelednose, and with this notch engages a finger, 9, Fig. 5, forming part of ahinged retaining-frame, G, pivoted to the case and acted upon by aspring, 9.

I prefer to bevel the outer face of the swing ing frame G,and againstthis beveled face bear the ends of a number of levers, H, pivoted to afixed part of the casing and acted oh at their opposite ends by thevertical stems of the keys K. There are nine of these keys,corresponding with the figures 1 to 9, inclusive, on the face of thenumber-plate. The faces of these keys also carry numbers on them, butthe ber-plate at the desired point, a projection, 7c,

being formed upon the upper part of the stem of the key, so that whenthe latter is pressed down to first release the spring-impelled numher-plate this projection It will descend into the path of a shoulder,N, Fig. 6, at the outer end of the number-plate, so that ifkey number 3,for instance, is pressed down the number-plate will be arrested in sucha position that the corresponding number 3 on the number-plate will showthrough the opening a.

In connection with the keys I make use of a locking-bolt I, which isadapted to guides't' in the casing, and which has shouldered notches J,corresponding in number with the keys. As shown more clearly in Figs. 7,S, and 9, each notch J has a shoulder, j, and a project ing finger, j.The sliding locking-bolt I has a limited movement in its guides, beingacted upon by a spring, t, Fig. 2, which tends to pull the bolt in thedirection of its arrow, Fig. 2; but when the parts are out of actionthelockingbolt is held in its inward position by a springcatch, L, Fig.5, hereinafter referred to. When the locking-bolt is held in thisposition, the stems of all the keys rest on the shoulders j, as shown inFigs. 2 and 7 but when the catch L, Fig. 5, is drawn back to release thelocking-bolt the spring i", Fig. 2, pullsthe bolt forward until thefingers j come into contact with the ends of the stems of the severalkeys, as shown in Fig. 8. The several parts are then in position readyfor action, and then by pressing upon any one of the keys the beveledcatch It" will push the bolt I back a little until its catch can passthe finger and engage with the under side of the latter, as shown inFig. 9, to lock the key in that position, while the numbenplate slidesforward, and until the bolt is pulled back, as hereinafter described.This bolt I thus locks the keys in either their upper or lowerpositions.

In order to restore the several parts to their normal positions, I makeuse of a sliding bar, M, which has at its outer end a rack gearing intoa pinion, m, connected to or formed in one with the gear-wheel D, asshown in Figs. 3 and i. To this bar M is connected, as hereinafterdescribed, a stern, N, having a handle, a, so that by pulling on thishandle the bar M will be drawn outward and will turn the wheel D, and sodraw the number-plate back to its normal position into engagement withthe linger of the retainer G, and the figure 0 showing through theopening a of the case.

The connection of the stem N with the bar is a yielding one, the stem Nbeing connected. to a stem, N, adapted to have a limited sliding motionin a groove in the bar M,as shown in Figs. and 5. On this stem N is avertically-projecting pin, 12, which, when the rackbar M is pulled back,engages with a corresponding pin, 0, on the face of the lockingbolt I topull the latter back to the position shown in Fig. 2 andinto engagementwith the spring-catch L, Fig. 5. A. spring, on, is inter posed betweenthe portion l of the stem and a suitable shoulder on the bar M, so as tokeep said stem N in such a position that the outer end of the stem Nwill be normally in contact with the end of the recess in the bar M.

For purposes of-sa'fety, I prefer to use, in connection with the above,an automatic catch, which will prevent the parts from sliding forwardand registering if the operator should accidentally happen to let theparts slip forward under the action of the springF before he has pulledthem all the way back into engagement with the retainer G and catch L.For this purpose I make use of a rotary ratchetbar, 11, mounted in thebar M, and having on its under side ratchet-teeth, with which mayengageIa spring-pawl, 1, on the nndcrsideofthe casing, Figs. 2 and 5. Inthe periphery of this ratchet-bar It is mounted a triangular recess, 1",Fig. 2, into which projects a pimp, on the stem N. As the stems N N ofthe bar M are pulled outward, the pin 12, acting on the inclined sidesof the recess 1', will turn the ratchet-bar to the position shown inFigs. 2 and 5 in the path of the spring-pawl 1'. Thus, when the operatorbegins to pull on the stemsN N, their first action will be to turn theratchetbar into position for engagement with the pawl. To throw theratchet-bar out of action, I provide an arm, Z, on the lower portion ofthe catch L, as shown in Fig. 5, to act on the pin 1" on the extreme endof the rotary ratchet-bar B, so that when the catch L is pushed back tofree the locking-bar I the arm Z on the catch will so turn theratchet-bar as to free it from engagement with the pawl r, and so allowthe bar M to slide forward when the number-plate has been released.

In order to operate all the stems N, with their handles a, at the sametime after a registry, to restore all the parts to their normalpositions, as shown in Fig. l, I make use of a crossbar, Q, carried bysliding rods 1 in guides in the under side of the casing.

To operate the catches L of all the sections at the same time, I connectthem by a crossbar, Z, as shown in Fig. 1., on the outside of thecasing, this cross-bar Z being united with all the catches L by pinspassing through slots 1 in the front of the casing, Fig. 5, so that atransverse movement of the cross bar will move all the catches at once,

To register the successive sales, as well as to indicate them to thecustomer, as described above, I provide registeringdials or othersuitable devices, S, preferably only in connection with the devicesoperating the numberplate carrying the figures for the highest column.

As shown in Fig. 3, I secure to the axis E a ratchet-wheel, T, which isconnected with. the cog-wheel D by its pawl (Z, while at the oppositeend of the shaft E is secured a wheel, U, having raised numbers (0 to 9)on its periphery and provided with an undulating collar, 14, as shown inFig. 2, and against this collar bears a spring-arm, V, having ananti-friction roller. The undulations or recesses in this Wheel areequal in number to the figures on estate 3 the periphery ofv the wheelU, so that the spring-arm will insure the stopping of the wheel in theposition to which it has been moved, with a number at the top in linewith the dials S, and the pawl and ratchet allow the communication ofmotion to the register only as the wheel D moves in one direction.

On the face of the wheel U, near the periphery, is a pin, a, which, ateach revolution, comes into contact with an arm of the star-wheel Y,Fig. 10, to give this a movement to the extent of one number.

A pin on the wheel Y, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10,) near thefigure 9, comes into contact with an arm of the secondregistering-wheel,Y, and the number of these wheels may be continued sofar as needed. Springs 15, bearing on the peripheries of the dials,prevent their movement beyond one tooth at a time. Theseregistering-dials I prefer to mount in a movable box, a, Figs. 1, 11,and 12, which may be provided with any suitable form ofretaining-catches or lockingbolts to hold it in place in the casing. Inthe drawings I have shown the box a as provided with bolts 1), engagingwith notches in the side plates of the casing, and controlled by a key,12, Fig; 12. Thus at any time the registering-box may be detached fromthe box and taken to the counting-room for examination and entry on thebusiness books. I also provide for carrying with the box a record oftheposition of the wheel U in the following manner: I prefer to make thenotches in theside plates in which the projecting ends of the cover ofthe box a rest somewhat deeper than the thickness of such cover-plate,and to interpose springs to, Figs. 1 and 11, below the ends of theplate, so that by slipping apiece of paper between the plate and thewheels U and pressing 011 the cover-plate a record may be obtained ofthe uppermost of the raised numbers on the said wheels.

In order to register totals on the dials, in connection with the sectionwhich has the highest column, I make use of any suitable device whichshall, at each complete revolution of the shaft E of one section, imparta partial revolution to the shaft E of the next section, carrying thenumber-plate to indicate the next higher column of figures.

In the drawings I have shown, Fig. 3, the

shaft E of each section as provided at one end with a wheel, D, havingon its outer face notches or ratchet-teeth a, while to the opposite endof the shaft E is secured a spring-pawl, e. The nose of this pawltravels in an annular groove in the side plate, andat each completerevolution of the shaft projects through an opening, 6 (with bevelededges,) in the said plate, and engages with a tooth or notch of disk orwheel D of the next section for a sufficient length of time to impart apartial movement to the shaft E and wheelU of the latter to the extentof one number. The springpawl e, as the-shaft E of the first sectionrotates, is forced by cams or inclines out of contact with the wheel Dof the second section and held out of contact therewith until the shaftof the first section has made another complete revo- 7o lution. Otherdevices, however, may be used for thesame purpose without departing frommy invention.

As I have said, my register has been designed more particularly for usefor indicating and registering cash sales in stores, and for thispurpose I mount the register in the surface of a counter, desk, ortable, 0, Fig. 13, so as to be flush, or nearly so, with the topthereof, in a position convenient for the salesman to registerandindieate the sales, by pressing on the buttons or keys abovedescribed, and convenient also for the buyer to see that the indicationis correct, by examining the numbers through the opening or open ings ain the top of the case.

This sales-indicator, it may be observed, is a structure independent ofthe structure of the desk, counter, or table, and is removabletherefrom.

By constructing the register in the manner described, and arranging itin the surface of the counter, desk, or table, the handling of goods orvarious'other articles on the surface of such counter is not interferedwith.

I claim as my invention- 1. A sales-indicating apparatus adapted to beplaced in the surface of a counter, desk, or table, and having slidingnumber-plates, aseries of operating-keys for each number-plate, and anopening in the surface of the apparatus to show the numbers on theplates, substantially as set forth.

2. Aregistering and indicating device comprising a case, a series ofsliding numberplates, springs to operate the same, and a number oflocking and releasing keys for each number-plate, substantially as setforth.

3. A registering device comprising a casing, a series of slidingnumber-plates,and operating-springs, with a locking and releasing keyfor each nu tuber-plate and a locking-bolt for the keys.

4. A registering device comprising a case, aseries of .slidingnumber-plates, and operatingsprings, with a number of looking andreleasing keys for each number-plate, and de vices, substantially asdeseribed,for returning the plates and other parts to their normalpositions.

5. A registering and indicating device adapted to be placed in thesurface of a table, desk, or counter, and having rows of operating-keyson its surface, sliding number-plates, and an opening in the surface ofthe case through which the numbers on the plates can be inspected.

(i. The combination of the case, the sliding number-plate having anotch, b, and shoulder N, with a retainer, G, and a series of keysadapted to release the retainer and at the same time to come into thepath of the shoulder b of the number-plate, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the ease, sliding number-plate having a notch andshoulder, and an operating-spring with a retainer to engage with thenotch of the number-plate, pivoted levers to act on the retainer, and aseries of keys to act on the levers and form stops to engage with theshoulder on the numher-plate.

S. The combination of the case. sliding i'lumber-platc, andoperating-spring with locking and releasing keys having beveled catchesk, and a notched locking-bolt, I, having a shoulder, j, and projectionj, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination of the sliding numberplate, operating-spring, andlocking and releasing key with lockingbolts for the keys and catches toretain the locking-bolt, substantially as described.

10. The combination of the sliding numberplates having racks on theirunder sides and locking and releasing keys therefor with gearwheels toengage with the number-plates and spiral Springs to operate the saidwheels when the number-plates are released, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of the rack, numberplates, locking and releasingkeys therefor, and gear-wheels with a rack-bar, N, a pinion connected tothe gear-wheel, and an operatingspring, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of the rack numberplates, locking and releasing keystherefor, and a locking-bar for the keys with a gearwheel, operatingspring and pinion, and a rack-bar engaging with the pinion,and having apimp, to act on the locking-bar for thekeys and return it to its normalposition when the other parts are pulled back.

13. The combination of the number-plates and locking and releasing keysand operatingsprings with a rack-bar, M, to return the parts to theirnormal positions, a pawl on the case, and an automaticratchetbar carriedby the bar M, to be thrown into engagement with the pawl as the said barM is drawn back, substantially as described.

14. The combination of the retnrn-bar M, having a stem adapted to haveasliding movement therein, and having a pin, a, and a spring with arotary ratchet-bar, R, having a triangular recess, 0', and a pawlcarried by the case, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. The combination of the return-bar and rotary ratchet-bar Rnnountedtherein, apawl upon the case, and a lever, L,having an arm, Z, adaptedto partially rotate the said bar It to disengage its teeth from thepawl, substantially as specified.

16. The combination of the return-bars M, having stems and fingers a,with a sliding cross-piece, (g, as and for the purpose specitied.

17. The combination of an indicator having sliding nun'ibenplates,operating-springs,and locking and releasing keys for each numberplatewith registering-dials adapted to be operated from the slidingnumber-plates, sub stantially as set forth.

18. The combination of the sliding numberplates and wheels gearedthereto and a series ofoperating'keys for each number-plate with shaftsE, carrying ratchet-wheels having a pawl-connection with the gear-wheel,and an indicating-wheel, also carried by the shalt, substantially as setforth.

19. The combination of the sliding numberplates and operating-s 'n'ingsand locking and releasing keys with a wheel geared to the number plates,an indicating-wheel controlled by the said gear-wheel, and dials to beoperated by the indicating-wheels, substantially as set forth.

20. A registering and indicating apparatus adapted to be placed. in thesurface of a connter, desk, or table,and having rows of operating-keys,number-plates, and an opening in the surface of the case to show thenumbers, registering dials operated by the numberplates, and a removablebox carrying theregistering-dials, all substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

MATTHIAS it. LOYNGAGRE.

XVitnesses:

\VILLLUI D. CONNER, HUnnn'r HOWSON.

